Toy aircraft set

ABSTRACT

A U-control type toy aircraft set wherein the toy aircraft has no propeller or other self powering means, but rather the flight power is imparted to the toy aircraft by manual manipulation of the control handle and the control lines which connect the handle to the aircraft. The U-control handle includes reel means around which the two control lines are wound for selectively lengthening and shortening the control lines, thus the radius of the arc through which the toy aircraft travels. The control handle has a grip portion, and a pair of elongated flexible and resilient extension portions which extend outwardly from the grip portion in a generally parallel but converging relation to one another in a common vertical plane. Each of the extension portions retains one of the control lines so as to define the lateral position of the line, while permitting longitudinal movement of the line. A mechanical interlock is provided between the extension portions to retain them in the common plane and prevent them twisting, while permitting them to move relative to one another.

United States Patent n91 Widener TOY AIRCRAFT SET [76] Inventor: CharlesD. Widener, 9 Coach Rd.,

Rolling Hills, Calif. 90274 [22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:421,437

Primary ExaminerAntonio F. Guida Assistant Examiner-Robert F. CuttingAttorney, Agent, or FirmRobert M. Ashen [57] ABSTRACT A U-con'trol typetoy aircraft set wherein the toy aircraft has no propeller or other selfpowering means, but rather the flight power is imparted to the toyaircraft by manual manipulation of the control handle and the controllines which connect the handle to the aircraft. The U-control handleincludes reel means around which the two control lines are wound forselectively lengthening and shortening the control lines, thus theradius of the arc through which the toy aircraft travels. The controlhandle has a grip portion, and a pair of elongated flexible andresilient extension portions which extend outwardly from the gripportion in a generally parallel but converging relation to one anotherin a common vertical plane. Each of the extension portions retains oneof the control lines so as to define the lateral position of the line,while permitting longitudinal movement of the line. A mechanicalinterlock is provided between the extension portions to retain them inthe common plane and prevent them twisting, while permitting them tomove relative to one another.

7 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures TOY AIRCRAFT SET U-control powered toyaircraft are well known for use by children and also adults. Normally,the aircraft has a small gasoline-powered reciprocating engine whichdrives a propeller to provide the propelling force for the aircraft. Thetoy aircraft is attached to the end of a pair of control lines which areeach attached at their other end to a control handle. The handle isoften called a U-control, because it is in a generally U-shapeconfiguration, with the mid-portion being the part which the user gripsin one hand to manipulate the control lines. The handle is held by theuser so that the handle extends generally vertically. The lines connectto a control surface on the toy aircraft in such a manner that a slightdifferential longitudinal movement of the two control lines operates thecontrol surface on the toy aircraft to cause it to climb or dive. Toachieve this differential in the lines and thus the control of theaircraft movement, the U-handle is manipulated so as to tilt it slightlyforward or slightly backward. The operators are not concerned withtwirling or actually causing the toy aircraft to fly, since theoperation of the motor controls that aspect of the flight. U-controlflying is very exciting because of the ability, by delicate manipulationof the U-handle, to simulate movements like those of real aircraft.Thus, the flight pattern and even take-off and landing of the aircraftare controlled by the sensitive manipulation of the U-handle, whichprovides excellent timing and sensitivity of control, as contrasted withmerely trying to manipulate flight by raising or lowering the level ofthe control lines as you might with a kite.

There are certain limitations, however, involved with the use ofengine-powered U-control aircraft. For one thing, the engine-poweredaircraft are quite expensive, both initially and to run. They require abattery for starting and they utilize a fuel which must be handled withsome care. It is inconvenient to carry around the fuel and battery andto periodically re-fuel and restart the aircraft. There is also acertain skill required in handling the fuel, in refueling the engine,and in maintaining the engine running properly. There is a substantialproblem of battery failure, engine malfunction, and of minor damagenevertheless rendering the aircraft inoperable. Repair of the aircraftis costly. For such reasons, the continued enjoyment and/or repeat usersof these aircraft have been limited, particularly among youngerchildren.

An additional major limitation on the use of such powered aircraft isthat they create loud noise when they are in operation so that they maybe very disturbing to people in the area. Because of this, there is asevere limitation on where such aircraft can be flown. Manymunicipalities have ordinances banning or limiting their use on schoolgrounds, public parks, etc. and it appears likely that more will followsuit because of the noise pollution as well as the resulting airpollution from the relatively inefficient engines which these aircraftutilize.

The toy aircraft apparatus of the present invention contemplates anon-powered aircraft which thus eliminates a number of the aboveproblems. The aircraft is given its flight power by the user whirling itaround in a circle by use of a control handle and control lines. Thus,the control handle and lines must be capable of effectively impartingthis flight motion to the aircraft as well as controlling its flight asin the case of the powered aircraft. The attachment of the control linesto the aircraft may be in a conventional manner, however, the controlhandle is constructed and arranged, and connected to the control linesin a manner which not only permits, but facilitates the duel function ofpowering flight and also providing high-sensitivity, quickresponse,control for the aircraft. In particular, the control handle is providedwith a pair of elongated, flexible and resilient extension portionswhich are generally parallel but converge toward one another. Eachextension portion serves to retain one of the control lines to limitlateral movement of the line, while permitting free longitudinalmovement thereof. In the illustrated form of control handle, theextension portions have substantially more flexibility in the commongenerally vertical plane defined by said portions than in the transversedirection. Thus, the extension portions will readily converge toward theaircraft regardless whether the handle is rotated from the vertical asin the fly up or fly down control position. The relative stiffness inthe other direction facilitates the whirling of the aircraft in itscircular path by the control handle. A mechanical interlock is providedbetween the extension portions which limits their twisting about theirown axis and bending out of their common plane; the interlock permits,however, the desired relative movement between the portions. The handlemay include reel means around which the control lines are wound, and letout or taken in, to control the length of line from the control handleto the aircraft.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view (partially broken way) of a control handle whichis a preferred form of the present in vention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view (partially broken away) of the handle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an extension portion taken generally alongline 44 of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views taken generally along lines 55, 66and 7-7, respectively, of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 shows an alternate form of extension portion.

FIG. 9 shows another alternate form of extension portion.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the handle together with a toyaircraft and control lines.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the control handle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the control handle of FIG. 1.

The drawings illustrate a non-powered U-control toy aircraft set orapparatus 10 which comprises a preferred form of the present invention.The apparatus 10 includes generally, as shown in FIG. 10, a non-poweredtoy aircraft 12, a pair of control lines 14 connected at one end to theaircraft, and a U-control handle 16 which the other ends of the controllines are attached to. Toy aircraft 12 is launched by grasping thecontrol handle 16 and whirling the aircraft round at the end of thecontrol lines 14, while allowing the lines to play out. The flight ofthe aircraft is then controlled by manipulating the control handle.

The illustrated toy aircraft l2 simulates a propellerless jet fighterplane. This streamlined silhouette minimizes wind resistance andprovides the desirable aerodynamic features and appearance of modern-dayjet aircraft. Since there is no propeller, replicas of actual jetaircraft can be utilized, as was not possible with propellet typepowered toy aircraft. The aircraft 12 is provided with a verticallymovable control surface 20 which may be connected in a conventionalmanner to a mechanism mounted on or within the toy aircraft that isoperable to cause the control surface to raise and lower. The controllines 14 are each mounted at one end to portions of this mechanism sothat differential longitudinal movement or displacement of the two lineswill effect vertical movement of the control surface 20. Such mechanismis well known in the art and is therefore not shown or described indetail herein.

The toy aircraft 12 may be provided with additional weights to providevarying centrifugal force to maintain the aircraft in a flight radiuscommensurate with the size and skill of the operator.

The illustrated handle 16 comprises generally a central elongated gripportion 32 having a longitudinal axis X-X, an end portion 34 at eitherend of the grip portion, and a pair of elongated, flexible and resilientextension members or portions 36 which extend outwardly from the endportions, generally parallel but converging together at the tips (seeFIGS. and 12). The extension portions lie in a common generally verticalplane. Mechanical interlock means 37 connects the two extension portions36 to limit them from twisting or bending out of the common plane, whilethe interlock means permits the portions relative movement. The handle16 may be formed of any suitable material such as wood, metal orplastic. In the illustrated structure, the grip portion 32 and the endportions 34 are formed of two mating half sections which come togetheralong a parting line indicated at YY in FIG. 3. As shown best in FIG. 3,there is a larger half section 38 and a smaller half section 40.

The illustrated handle 16 also includes reel means 42 around which thecontrol lines 14 are wound and from which they can be let out duringlaunch to increase the radius of the lines 14 and wound in afterlanding. The reel means 42 includes a reel member 44 which has a centralshaft portion or section 46 and at each end, a take-up reel or spoolsection 48. The reel member 44 is received in a complimentary-shapedrecess within the control handle, with the shaftsection 46 extendinggenerally centrally and longitudinally of the grip portion 32, and eachtake-up spool section 48 disposed within one of the end portions 34.

As shown best in FIG. 2, the larger half section 38 provides the onehalf of the grip portion 32, and the parts of the end portions 34 whichdefine one half of the recess in which the wind up member 44 isrotatably received and supported. The smaller half section 40 providesthe portions which define the other half of that recess. The halfsections 38 and 40 further provide arm sections 41 of the end portions34 which extend outwardly is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The part of thelarger half section 38 providing each of the arm sections 41 isgenerally U-shaped as shown best in FIGS. 6 and 7. The part of thesmaller half section 40 providing each of the arm sections 41 iscomplementary in that it has a tongue section 43 which is receivedwithin one of said U-shaped parts of the larger half section 38.

The half sections may be held together by suitable means such as screws45. The end of each control line 14 is fixed to one of the take-up reelsections 48 and extends through a small centering groove 50 in the endportion 34. The groove 50 is generally aligned with the center of thegroove 52 of the take-up reel section 48 (See FIG. 2). The inner end ofeach extension member or portion 36 is securely held in a mating recess54 in an end portion 34. A longitudinal opening or passageway 56 (FIG.4) through the interior of the extension portion is generally alignedwith and in communication with the adjacent centering groove 50. Thus,the control line 14 extends from the take-up reel section 48 through thecentering groove 50 and then through the opening 56 in the extensionportion 36. The illustrated extension portions or members 36 shown inFIGS. l-7 are generally rectangular plastic extrusions or injectionmoulded parts made from a material such as ABS plastic. Such a materialis relatively strong, durable and weather-resistant, while providing adesired degree of flexibility and resilience. As noted above, it isdesirable that the extension members have substantial flexibility withinthe plane which they define with the handle grip portion. This is tofacilitate, during any control position of the handle, the converganceof the two extension members and the enclosed control lines generallytoward the aircraft so as not to deflect the control lines in thevertical plane as would occur with more rigid extension members. Thisthen accurately duplicates the feel and skills required in poweredU-control flight. The extension members must, of course, have asufficient amount of stiffness or resistance in this plane to permitsome manual control of the lines. To impart the flight power to the toyaircraft, however, it has been found desirable that the extensionmembers be substantially stiffer in the direction transverse to theplane defined by the extension members and the gripping portion of thehandle. In other words, when the handle is twirled around by the user toimpart flight motion to the aircraft, some resilient or flipping actionis desired; however, substantially less flexibility and more stiffnesswas found to be desirable as compared to desired freedom of movement ofthe extension members within the plane which they define with thehandle.

The illustrated extension member 36 has been found to provide thedesired amounts of flexibility and resilience and to be a relativelyinexpensive and durable part to produce and maintain. As shown in FIG.4, the extension member 36 has a generally rectangular shape incross-section. The central groove 56 through the extension member 36 isgenerally circular in cross-section and it extends for the length of thepart. When assembled in the control handle, the extension member 36 isdisposed with its larger cross-sectional dimension running transverse tothe plane defined by the extension members and the grip portion 32. Thesmaller crosssectional dimension of the member 36 extends generallyparallel to that plane and to the axis of the grip portion 32 of thehandle. The extension member just described may be conveniently andeconomically extruded or injection mounded. To provide the desired rangeof flexibility between the inner end of the extension member 36 where itis attached to the end portion of the handle and the outer or free endof the member 36, it has been found that the plastic member may beformed to provide a slight inward taper in the direction of the free endof the member.

FIG. 8 shows an alternate construction of extension member 360 comprisedof a bendable sheet material such as aluminum or other metal. A strip ofsuch material may be folded or rolled over around its centrallongitudinal portion so that it is generally U-shaped in cross-section,with the edge or marginal portions of the strip coming togethersufficiently to retain a control line within the loop thereby formed. Itwill be noted from FIG. 8 that this member has a substantially greaterdimension in section in one direction than in the other. Thus, whilethis configuration member will have some give or bend in all directions,it has substantially greater stiffness or resistance to flexing in itslonger cross-sectional direction than in the other or shortercross-sectional direction. This member 36a would be oriented in thehandle the same way as the plastic extension member 36. That is, thelarge dimension would be oriented transverse to the plane of the memberswhile the smaller dimension would be aligned with that plane.

It was found that as the force required to impart flight motion to thetoy aircraft was applied to the handle, the extension members 36 tendedto rotate about their longitudinal axis about 90 and then bendexcessively, causing considerable loss of ability to propel theaircraft.

It was also determined that as the tension in the con trol lines becomeunequal as in a full fly up or fly down position of the control handle,the control line with the higher tension would cause its extension member to be deflected in the transverse direction a greater amount thanthe other extension member, resulting in an unbalanced twisting effecton the handle. This excessive deflection also aggravated the rotationalproblem described above in that member.

FIGS. 11 and 12 shown an interlock mechanism 37 which functions to limitthe rotation of the extension members and retain them in the commonvertical plane, while still permitting relative motion between theextension members. In particular, relative longitudinal movement betweenthe extension members is required when the handle is rotated to impartcontrol to the lines. The illustrated interlock means 37 comprises apair of mounting blocks 58, one secured to each extension member 36intermediate its ends, and generally opposite from one another. A pairof linking rods 60 are each pivotally connected at opposite ends to therespective blocks 58. The rods 60 are positioned on either side of theextension members 36, lying to either side of the common plane definedby the members. Thus, the blocks 58 and the rods 60 form a rectangularstructure which resists and limits twisting of an extension member aboutits own axis or bending of a member out of the common plane. At the sametime, each rod 60 may pivot about axes normal to the common plane topermit relative movement between the members. In particular, forexample, as the upper end of the handle is tilted forward (toward thetoy aircraft) as shown in broken line in FIG. 12, the upper extensionmember moves forward relative to the lower member.

Suitable means may be provided for controlling the rotational movementof the reel means 42 to take up the control lines 14 and to let them outas desired. In the illustrated device, the ends of the reel sections 48are exposed and a crank 62 is provided on the outer face of one of thereel sections for manually turning the reel member 44 to take in thelines. For letting the lines out to thereby increase the length of thelines between the handle and the toy airplane during launching, theforce on the line will be provided by the centrifugal force of therotating aircraft. This force, which is in a generally radially outwarddirection, will tend to draw the lines outwardly and unreel them fromthe reel means. This outward unreeling may be controlled by having aportion of the reel member exposed so that it can be manually engaged bythe fingers of the user as he grips the control handle to stop orcontrol the rate of pay-out of th line.

Since there are times when the control lines 14 will not be exerting asteady outward pull on the reel means 42, such as when the plane is notin flight, it is desirable to provide frictional means to maintain aminimum amount of resistance against movement of the real means.Otherwise, if the lines unwind from the reel means while there isinsufficient tension or pull on them, the lines can easily becomesnarled or twisted. Thus, a small washer type spring member (FIG. 2) maybe provided in engagement with the reel member 44 so that a minimumamount of line pull is necessary to unwind the reel member.

The illustrated arrangement permits the user to launch the toy aircraftwith one hand, to achieve a relatively large radius of flight, and toretain control while sustaining the flight of the aircraft.

More particularly, the extension members make it easier to launch theaircraft by positioning the aircraft initially a greater distance outaway from the user than can be obtained merely using ones arm. This isvery important for children since they have short arms and do notpossess great skill in handling the aircraft. Further, it has been foundthere is a maximum radius of stable flight for each effective arm length(i.e., the length of the users arm plus the length of the extension ifany). The maximum radius of stable flight is the maximum radius at whichthe aircraft can still be adequately controlled; when the aircraftbegins to slow down when being flown at a larger radius, it gets behindthe user, cannot be made to catch up, and the aircraft will then goquickly out of control and crash. For example, without any extension,for a user with about a 3 foot long arm, the maximum radius of flightwould be about 10 feet. For the same user with a 2 foot extension, themaximum radius of flight is enlarged to about 20 feet. The reels permitthe aircraft to be effectively launched with one hand: the user gripsthe control handle with one hand and the aircraft begins its circlingflight at a position radially adjacent to the outer ends of theextension members; as it circles, centrifugal force tends to pull itradially outwardly; the same hand which holds the control handle alsoexerts frictional control over the unwinding of the lines from the reelsto provide a controlled increase in the radius of flight to the desiredfinal radius.

Thus, the control handle with resilient, interlocked, extension membersacts on the control lines and the non-powered toy aircraft toeffectively propel the aircraft in its circling orbit while at the sametime providing quick response, high sensitivity, control of the flightof the aircraft. The structure is relatively simple and economical toproduce and maintain, and may be used by even very young childrenwithout danger. FIG. 9 shows a modified extension member 36' having acircular cross section for low cost and simple production and assembly.I claim:

1. U-control handle for both controlling and imparting flight power to anon-powered toy aircraft through a pair of flexible lines, said handlecomprising:

a grip portion,

a pair of elongated, flexible and resilient extension portions beingconnected to said grip portion and extending outwardly therefrom in agenerally, converging relation to one another, said extension portionsbeing disposed in a common reference plane, each of said extensionportions being designed and constructed to retain a control line so asto limit lateral movement of the line while permitting free longitudinalmovement of the line,

mechanical interlocking means connected between said extension portionsto limit their ability to twist or to bend out of said common plane,while permitting them to move within said plane relative to one another,and

reel means around which the control lines are wound positioned on saidhandle, said reel means including means for selectively controllingoperation of the reel means to effect increase or decrease in the lengthof the control lines between the control han- 5. The handle of claim 1wherein each of said extension portions has a longitudinally extendingcentral opening for receiving therein one of the control lines.

6. The handle of claim 1 in combination with a nonpowered toy aircraftand a pair of flexible control lines each connected at one end to saidaircraft and at the other end to said handle.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said extension portions havesubstantially greater flexibility in said plane defined by saidextension portions than transversely of said plane.

1. U-control handle for both controlling and imparting flight power to anon-powered toy aircraft through a pair of flexible lines, said handlecomprising: a grip portion, a pair of elongated, flexible and resilientextension portions being connected to said grip portion and extendingoutwardly therefrom in a generally, converging relation to one another,said extension portions being disposed in a common reference plane, eachof said extension portions being designed and constructed to retain acontrol line so as to limit lateral movement of the line whilepermitting free longitudinal movement of the line, mechanicalinterlocking means connected between said extension portions to limittheir ability to twist or to bend out of said common plane, whilepermitting them to move within said plane relative to one another, andreel means around which the control lines are wound positioned on saidhandle, said reel means including means for selectively controllingoperation of the reel means to effect increase or decrease in the lengthof the control lines between the control handle and the toy aircraft. 2.The handle of claim 1 wherein said extension portions have substantiallygreater flexibility in said common plane defined by said extensionportions than transversely of said plane.
 3. The handle of claim 2wherein said extension portions each have a larger dimension in thedirection generally normal to said plane than in the direction of saidplane.
 4. The handle of claim 3 wherein said extension portioNs eachhave a generally rectangular cross-section.
 5. The handle of claim 1wherein each of said extension portions has a longitudinally extendingcentral opening for receiving therein one of the control lines.
 6. Thehandle of claim 1 in combination with a non-powered toy aircraft and apair of flexible control lines each connected at one end to saidaircraft and at the other end to said handle.
 7. The combination ofclaim 6 wherein said extension portions have substantially greaterflexibility in said plane defined by said extension portions thantransversely of said plane.